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     enigvista
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Username: enigvista
Post Number: 122
Registered: 10-2007
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| | Monday, October 29, 2007 - 10:29 pm: |  
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Flying Blind
Reporter: Andrew Fowler
Broadcast: 29/10/2007
"If you think about all the planes that are available as being puppies in a litter, the Super Hornet is the runt." US aviation analyst James Stevenson
For more than 30 years Australia has rested its security on the seemingly ageless wings of its F-111 fighter fleet.
But in aviation circles these days there are doubts and rumblings. Some experts fear Australia is set to give away its crucial air superiority in the region.
The reason, they claim, is that decision-makers have made the wrong choices about the planes that will replace the F-111s.
Critics fix their sights on the US-made F/18-A Super Hornet. Australia is the only country outside the US to have bought the Super Hornet – 24 of them.
"I cannot believe that we would waste $6.6 billion of the taxpayers' money on an aeroplane that has no practical use against any modern new generation fighter coming into our arc of interest to our north," declares a former RAAF commander.
A growing squadron of critics - including a recent senior Defence insider who now breaks his silence to Four Corners - claim the still-to-be-delivered Super Hornets will be no match for the cheaper, faster, Russian-made Sukhoi fighters bought by Indonesia, Malaysia and China.
Four Corners traces the chain of multi-billion dollar aircraft deals that are beginning to spark concerns about the nation's future defence capability.
Andrew Fowler's report tells how in 2002 the world's top aircraft makers dug in for a long, exhaustive examination by Australian defence experts who were after a plane to take over from the F-111s. It would be worth it, the nine companies reckoned – after all, billions of dollars were up for grabs. But eight of them were reeling when it was suddenly announced that Australia would spend $16 billion buying up to 100 Joint Strike Fighters from America’s Lockheed Martin. The JSF existed only on paper at that time but was due to be delivered by 2014.
Fears soon emerged that the JSF could be late. Defence brass gave public assurances that the F-111s could be kept flying to cover any gap in air defence. But behind closed doors new doubts were being raised about the F-111s' longevity – and then the news was sprung that Australia would spend another $6.6 billion buying the Super Hornets to fill the gap.
Government officials and pilots who have flown the Super Hornet insist that the plane is being unfairly and dangerously underestimated. It’s stealthy and nimble, and any other plane that gets into a dogfight with it is in for "a very rude shock" says group captain Steve Roberton.
But these assurances carry little payload with specialists who say national security is being put at risk. Four Corners evaluates the process leading to these multi-billion dollar decisions. Will they leave Australia "Flying Blind"? Four Corners, 8.30 pm Monday 29 October.
This program will be repeated about 11.35 pm Tuesday 30 October; also on ABC2 at 9.30 pm Wednesday and 8 am Thursday.
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2007/s2070484.htm
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enigvista
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Username: enigvista
Post Number: 123
Registered: 10-2007
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| | Monday, October 29, 2007 - 11:12 pm: |
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Liberal defence ministers Robert Hill and then in March 2006 Brandon Nelson,decidet without tender,to buy the inferior F/18-A Super Hornet from the US (Lockheed)and cancel all other presentations of 9 other major tenders.
Critics fix their sights on the US-made F/18-A Super Hornet. Australia is the only country outside the US to have bought the Super Hornet – 24 of them.
"I cannot believe that we would waste $6.6 billion of the taxpayers' money on an aeroplane that has no practical use against any modern new generation fighter coming into our arc of interest to our north," declares a former RAAF commander.
The still-to-be-delivered Super Hornets will be no match for the cheaper, faster, Russian-made Sukhoi fighters bought by Indonesia, Malaysia and China.
Anyone who knows the performance of the Sukhoi fighters,
realizes that they will fly faster ,further,higher,with
a higher load then the Super Hornets ever will.
The Sukhoi fighters is half the price of the Hornet,
but twice as good as the Hornet.
This is another major stuff up by the Australian Government
and the minister for defence,Brendon Nelson.
He bought us a white elephant,noone else wants,not even the US navy themselves!
What a stuff up by this incompetent government!
whatever happened to free trade?This was all set up between Howard and Bush!What a joke,a total stuff up!
watch the Sukhoi fly,beats the Hornet in every aspect of
performance!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY0t_mPv6I4
G
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enigvista
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Username: enigvista
Post Number: 124
Registered: 10-2007
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| | Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - 02:11 am: |
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from left to right:
1) DICK dreams of shooting Ducks and invading countries like Afghanistan,Iraq,Syria,Lebanon and lately Iran.
2) BUSHLER dreams of WORLD WAR III and a NEW ALL AMERICAN WORLD ORDER to last the next 1000 YEARS.
3) Bean Howard, Al-Quaida Terrorist Suspect is about to be deported to Guantanamo Bay for initial interrogation.
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enigvista
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Username: enigvista
Post Number: 125
Registered: 10-2007
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| | Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - 12:38 pm: |
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The fall in the USD is almost entirely due to the punishing
US Trade deficit,which is now close to 800 Billion USD in
2007,as I post this.Add to this the prohibitive cost of
about 500 billion USD for the failed war in Iraq ,
not to mention the unmessurable cost of human suffering
of civilians and collateral damage,injuries and soldiers
suffering loss of life or limb and countless disabilities from post traumatic stress disorders.
The cost to the US economy is enormous.
It is my believe,that america as a nation has been in a recession since 2003,when disastrous decision was taken to invade Iraq.
Since then,the US economy and with it the world economy has struggled under enormous financial costs and burdens ,
wasted on destruction and warfare.
Meanwhile the price of oil is sky rocketing and the
United States of America is close to being Bankrupt.
If the USA was a corporation,you would put it into receivership.Technically,the USA is in receivership.
I cannot see a change or recovery for the US Dollar,
nor for the United States,unless the US stops wasting its funds on useless and futile warfare activities ,such as we have seen since 2003.
The infrastructure in the US,Medicade,social security and
funding for Health and education is sadly lacking,while
military spending has gone up tenfold!
Just look, at New Orleans,the Infrastructure in the Gulf,
the Fires in California,the poverty of many americans
suffering from the subprime housing crises amongst the obscenely outrageous hedge fund orgies who have lost
any sense of value for money.
Unless the Iraq problem is resolved soon,I can not see
any recovery for the USA anytime soon.
What happens if the USD falls further in value and the
price of oil climbs even higher ?
It is my believe that the US is in recession right
now,and it seems to only get worse.
G
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enigvista
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Username: enigvista
Post Number: 126
Registered: 10-2007
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| | Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - 12:52 pm: |
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what is Bernanke to do ?
Can Ben Bernanke really savely lower the US Interest Rate by another .25basis points tomorrow ?
I do not really think it is a good Idea.
Lowering the US rates even more will devalue the US Dollar
even more and will make imported goods ever more expensive for americans.If americans stop buying imported goods,
it could cause a world wide recession.
After all,where does China sell most of their goods ?
So NO,I do not think that Markets will get another Rate Cut
tomorrow,simply because it would be counter productive!
What we need is a stronger US Dollar and a lower price of OIL,which is hurting producers!
If we do not see the expected rate rise tomorrow,Markets
will be disappointed and there could be a slight downturn
in the next couple of days,starting tonight in the US.
But in the long run it will be better for the Markets and the US economy,NOT to cut the Interest rates this time,
but leave rates on hold and wait and see.
my thoughts,
G
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enigvista
Member
Username: enigvista
Post Number: 132
Registered: 10-2007
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Votes: 1
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| | Thursday, November 01, 2007 - 05:20 am: |
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How can the US expect another rate cut,when their CPI is running at 3.6% in the USA?
3.6% shows that the USA inflationary costs of producing goods and services is very high,even though the US Dollar is at a 20 year low when compared with the UK pound or Aussie Dollar.Then there is the Euro.One US Dollar is 1.44 Euro. One Euro is only about 0.69 US Dollars!
Think about it...will the Euro soon replace the USD as benchmark currency?
Here is Australia ,our YEAR TO YEARCPI is running at a low 1.9% right now,but our "Governor" of the RBA utters idiotic
remarks of getting trigger happy yet again at the next RBA meeting Nov.6.
Australian Rates are at an 11 year high of an outrageous
6.5% !Courtesy of the commodities boom.
But outside the mining industry,average Australians are struggling.They are being told:"they never had it sooo good!" by an increasingly out of touch and right wing
radical government!(my opinion)
How can the aussie RBA screw rates even tighter,when the
CPI is only 1.9% ?
This will make the AUD even higher in value,and life will get impossible for exporters and all basemetals produced by BHP and RIO will get even more expensive,which will drive
Inflation even higher!!
This leads me to conclude,that the Governor of the RBA is a total wanker and an out of touch arrogant numbscull!
How do these Idiots like Glen Stevens,Howard or Bush ever
get to stay in their Job for more then 5 Minutes is beyond me!I seem to be surrounded by Idiots,and it is therefor no wonder,that year by year I become more doubtful.cynical
and sardonic,when it comes to my fellow "inmates" in this
circus we call "life".
Help - I am surrounded by clowns!
Must be Halloween....
G
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enigvista
Member
Username: enigvista
Post Number: 142
Registered: 10-2007
Rating:
Votes: 1
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| | Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 09:13 am: |
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Favourite video for the week :
John Howard "search for a scapegoat v 1,2,3"(bykillerspudley)
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=NXGljWytezc&watch_response
great satire,very refreshing,
great fun,
enjoy,
G
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enigvista
Member
Username: enigvista
Post Number: 143
Registered: 10-2007
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| | Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 09:33 pm: |
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http://www.youtube.com/user/killerspudly
killerspud,you are a genius.
lol,G
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enigvista
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Username: enigvista
Post Number: 193
Registered: 10-2007
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| | Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 02:30 pm: |
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Sophia Magdalena Scholl (9 May 1921 – 22 February 1943) was a member of the White Rose non-violent resistance movement during the Nazi regime in Germany. She was arrested on 18 February 1943, convicted of treason four days later, and executed by guillotine a few hours after that.
* The real damage is done by those millions who want to "survive." The honest men who just want to be left in peace. Those who don't want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and no causes. Those who won't take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don't like to make waves — or enemies. Those for whom freedom, honor, truth, and principles are only literature. Those who live small, mate small, die small. It's the reductionist approach to life: if you keep it small, you'll keep it under control. If you don't make any noise, the bogeyman won't find you. But it's all an illusion, because they die too, those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe?! From what? Life is always on the edge of death; narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues, and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does. I choose my own way to burn.(Sophia Magdalena Scholl)
http://www.jlrweb.com/whiterose/index.html
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enigvista
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Username: enigvista
Post Number: 194
Registered: 10-2007
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| | Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 02:36 pm: |
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Some Facts worth knowing about:-(NO,I won't let you forget it!)
When John Howard was the Treasurer in April 1982 interest rates hit an all time high of 22 %
Interest rates reached a peak of 22 per cent in April 1982 - when the Liberal Party was in power, and John Howard was the Treasurer.
Date Interest Rate
05-Apr-1982 20.85%
06-Apr-1982 21.45%
07-Apr-1982 21.88%
08-Apr-1982 22.00%
13-Apr-1982 21.95%
14-Apr-1982 21.75%
15-Apr-1982 21.55%
90 day bank bills (Source: Reserve Bank of Australia, Bulletin Statistical Table F1)
John Howard and the Liberals want to talk about 'past records' on interest rates but they do NOT want you to know about their own record.
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enigvista
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Username: enigvista
Post Number: 212
Registered: 10-2007
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| | Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 09:41 pm: |
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Wrongfully detained for 5 years - the tragic story of Tony Tran
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Broadcast: 12/11/2007
Reporter: Margot O'Neill
Husband and father Tony Tran says he was wrongfully locked up for five and a half years, thanks to an immigration bungle.
Transcript
DANA ROBERTSON: You're probably familiar with the names Cornelia Rau and Vivian Solon, both victims of immigration scandals involving illegal detention or deportation. Tonight another such case has come to light.
It 's difficult to imagine the nightmare endured by Tony Tran.
A young husband and father, he was wrongfully locked-up for five and a half years; he was separated from his wife, who went back overseas and now can't be found; he lost his home and his livelihood and his Australian-born son was put into foster care while an attempt was made to deport the boy without his father's knowledge.
You may think, well, it can't get worse than that.
But while in detention Tony Tran was stabbed and bashed by another inmate and now suffers a range of chronic health problems.
Despite all this the Government has never apologised. Indeed, Tony Tran and his son still face possible deportation, although they're stateless with no citizenship rights anywhere else in the world.
So tonight we ask: why is his case - and that of his nine-year-old son - being allowed to drag on? Questions neither side of politics appear anxious to comment on in an election campaign.
Tony Tran told his story exclusively to Lateline's Margot O'Neill.
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s2088867.htm
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enigvista
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Username: enigvista
Post Number: 213
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| | Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 11:54 pm: |
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What's sinking the dollar?
Fortune's senior editor-at-large Geoff Colvin takes a closer look at the greenback's spiraling decline.
November 13 2007: 4:04 AM EST
(Fortune Magazine) -- Things do tend to go to hell all at once, so maybe it should be no surprise that the dollar tanked as the subprime mess was getting rapidly worse and stock markets were whipsawing, mostly downward. The dollar's fate is especially worrisome because of its historic role as the world's reserve currency and its obvious importance to the world's largest economy. In today's interconnected global markets the dollar's movements are part cause, part effect - but on net it's hard to see the dollar getting much stronger anytime soon.
The forces behind the dollar's weakening have been building for years but didn't have much effect until recently. Most fundamentally, we Americans have been living beyond our means, buying more from the rest of the world than the world buys from us (that's the trade deficit); to do that, we have to give foreigners claims on our assets in the form of government bonds and corporate bonds, or sometimes the assets themselves. A country as rich as America can do that for a long time, but eve | |
